下载辰思小说免费APP
\'Mary，mydear，howdidyoumanageit？Ididn\'texpectyoutillthelatetrain。\'
\'IwasinLondon，yousee，andtheytelephonedonyourtelegram。
I\'mstayingwithAuntDoria，andIcuthertheatreparty。ShethinksI\'mattheShandwick\'sdance，soIneedn\'tgohometillmorning……
Goodevening，GeneralHannay。YougotovertheHillDifficulty。\'
\'ThenextstageistheValleyofHumiliation，\'Ianswered。
\'Soitwouldappear，\'shesaidgravely，andsatveryquietlyontheedgeofSirWalter\'schairwithhersmall，coolhanduponhis。
Ihadbeenpicturingherinmyrecollectionasveryyoungandglimmering，adancing，exquisitechild。ButnowIrevisedthatpicture。Thecrystalfreshnessofmorningwasstillthere，butIsawhowdeepthewaterswere。Itwasthecleanfinenessandstrengthofherthatentrancedme。Ididn\'teventhinkofheraspretty，anymorethanamanthinksofthegoodlooksofthefriendheworships。
Wewaited，hardlyspeakingaword，tillMacgillivraycame。Thefirstsightofhisfacetoldhisstory。
\'Gone？\'askedBlenkironsharply。Theman\'slethargiccalmseemedtohavewhollydesertedhim。
\'Gone，\'repeatedthenewcomer。\'Wehavejusttrackedhimdown。Oh，hemanageditcleverly。Neverasignofdisturbanceinanyofhislairs。HisdinnerorderedatBiggleswickandseveralpeopleinvitedtostaywithhimfortheweekend-oneamemberoftheGovernment。Twomeetingsatwhichhewastospeakarrangedfornextweek。EarlythisafternoonheflewovertoFranceasapassengerinoneofthenewplanes。HehadbeenmixedupwiththeAirBoardpeopleformonths-ofcourseasanothermanwithanotherface。MissLamingtondiscoveredthatjusttoolate。ThebuswentoutofitscourseandcamedowninNormandy。Bythistimeourman\'sinParisorbeyondit。\'
SirWaltertookoffhisbigtortoiseshellspectaclesandlaidthemcarefullyonthetable。
\'RollupthemapofEurope，\'hesaid。\'ThisisourAusterlitz。
Mary，mydear，Iamfeelingveryold。\'
Macgillivrayhadthesharpenedfaceofabitterlydisappointedman。Blenkironhadgotveryred，andIcouldseethathewasblasphemingviolentlyunderhisbreath。Mary\'seyeswerequietandsolemn。ShekeptonpattingSirWalter\'shand。Thesenseofsomegreatimpendingdisasterhungheavilyonme，andtobreakthespellIaskedfordetails。
\'Tellmejusttheextentofthedamage，\'Iasked。\'OurneatplanfordeceivingtheBochehasfailed。Thatisbad。Adangerousspyhasgotbeyondourpower。That\'sworse。Tellme，istherestillaworst？What\'sthelimitofmischiefhecando？\'
SirWalterhadrisenandjoinedBlenkirononthehearthrug。HisbrowswerefurrowedandhismouthhardasifheweresufferingPain。
\'Thereisnolimit，\'hesaid。\'NonethatIcansee，exceptthelong-
sufferingofGod。YouknowthemanasIvery，andyouknewhimasthatotherwhomyoubelievedtohavebeenshotonesummermorninganddecentlyburied。Youfearedthesecond-atleastifyoudidn\'t，Idid-mostmortally。YourealizedthatwefearedIvery，andyouknewenoughabouthimtoseehisfiendishcleverness。
Well，youhavethetwomencombinedinoneman。IverywasthebestbrainMacgillivrayandIeverencountered，themostcunningandpatientandlong-sighted。Combinehimwiththeother，thechameleonwhocanblendhimselfwithhisenvironment，andhasasmanypersonalitiesastherearetypesandtraitsontheearth。
Whatkindofenemyisthattohavetofight？\'
\'Iadmitit\'sasteepproposition。Butafterallhowmuchillcanhedo？Thereareprettystrictlimitstotheactivityofeventhecleverestspy。\'
\'Iagree。Butthismanisnotaspywhobuysafewwretchedsubordinatesandstealsadozenprivateletters。He\'sageniuswhohasbeenlivingaspartofourEnglishlife。There\'snothinghehasn\'tseen。He\'sbeenontermsofintimacywithallkindsofpoliticians。Weknowthat。HediditasIvery。Theyratherlikedhim，forhewascleverandflatteredthem，andtheytoldhimthings。
ButGodknowswhathesawandheardinhisotherpersonalities。
ForallIknowhemayhavebreakfastedatDowningStreetwithlettersofintroductionfromPresidentWilson，orvisitedtheGrandFleetasadistinguishedneutral。Thenthinkofthewomen；howtheytalk。We\'retheleakiestsocietyonearth，andwesafeguardourselvesbykeepingdangerouspeopleoutofit。Wetrusttoourouterbarrage。Butanyonewhohasreallyslippedinsidehasamillionchances。Andthis，remember，isonemanintenmillions，amanwhosebrainneversleepsforamoment，whoisquicktoseizetheslightesthint，whocanpieceaplantogetheroutofadozenbitsofgossip。It\'slike-it\'sasiftheChiefoftheIntelligenceDepartmentweresuddenlytodeserttotheenemy……Theordinaryspyknowsonlybitsofunconnectedfacts。Thismanknowsourlifeandourwayofthinkingandeverythingaboutus。\'
\'Well，butatreatiseonEnglishlifeintimeofwarwon\'tdomuchgoodtotheBoche。\'
SirWaltershookhishead。\'Don\'tyourealizetheexplosivestuffthatislyingabout？IveryknowsenoughtomakethenextGermanpeaceoffensivereallydeadly-nottheblunderingthingwhichithasbeenuptonow，butsomethingwhichgetsourweakspotsontheraw。Heknowsenoughtowreckourcampaigninthefield。
Andtheawfulthingisthatwedon\'tknowjustwhatheknowsorwhatheisaimingfor。Thiswar\'sapacketofsurprises。Bothsidesarestrugglingforthemargin，thelittlefractionofadvantage，andbetweenevenlymatchedenemiesit\'sjusttheextraatomofforeknowledgethattells。\'
\'Thenwe\'vegottopushoffandgetafterhim，\'Isaidcheerfully。
\'Butwhatareyougoingtodo？\'askedMacgillivray。\'Ifitweremerelyaquestionofdestroyinganorganizationitmightbemanaged，foranorganizationpresentsabigfront。Butit\'saquestionofdestroyingthisoneman，andhisfrontisarazoredge。Howareyougoingtofindhim？It\'slikelookingforaneedleinahaystack，andsuchaneedle！Aneedlewhichcanbecomeapieceofstraworatin-tackwhenitchooses！\'
\'Allthesamewe\'vegottodoit，\'Isaid，rememberingoldPeter\'slessononfortitude，thoughIcan\'tsayIwasfeelingverystout-hearted。
SirWalterflunghimselfwearilyintoanarm-chair。\'IwishI
couldbeanoptimist，\'hesaid，\'butitlooksasifwemustowndefeat。I\'vebeenatthisworkfortwentyyears，and，thoughI\'vebeenoftenbeaten，I\'vealwaysheldcertaincardsinthegame。NowI\'mhangedifI\'veany。Itlookslikeaknock-out，Hannay。It\'snogooddeludingourselves。We\'remenenoughtolookfactsinthefaceandtellourselvesthetruth。Idon\'tseeanyrayoflightinthebusiness。We\'vemissedourshotbyahairsbreadthandthat\'sthesameasmissingbymiles。\'
IrememberhelookedatMaryasifforconfirmation，butshedidnotsmileornod。Herfacewasverygraveandhereyeslookedsteadilyathim。Thentheymovedandmetmine，andtheyseemedtogivememymarchingorders。
\'SirWalter，\'Isaid，\'threeyearsagoyouandIsatinthisveryroom。Wethoughtweweredonetotheworld，aswethinknow。
Wehadjustthatonemiserablelittlecluetohangonto-adozenwordsscribbledinanotebookbyadeadman。YouthoughtIwasmadwhenIaskedforScudder\'sbook，butweputourbacksintothejobandintwenty-fourhourswehadwonout。Rememberthatthenwewerefightingagainsttime。Nowwehaveareasonableamountofleisure。Thenwehadnothingbutasentenceofgibberish。
Nowwehaveagreatbodyofknowledge，forBlenkironhasbeenbroodingoverIverylikeanoldhen，andheknowshiswaysofworkingandhisbreedofconfederate。You\'vegotsomethingtoworkonnow。Doyoumeantotellmethat，whenthestakesaresobig，you\'regoingtochuckinyourhand？\'
Macgillivrayraisedhishead。\'WeknowagooddealaboutIvery，butIvery\'sdead。WeknownothingofthemanwhowasgloriouslyresurrectedthiseveninginNormandy。\'
\'Oh，yeswedo。Therearemanyfacestotheman，butonlyonemind，andyouknowplentyaboutthatmind。\'
\'Iwonder，\'saidSirWalter。\'Howcanyouknowamindwhichhasnocharacteristicsexceptthatitiswhollyandsupremelycompetent？
Merementalpowerswon\'tgiveusaclue。Wewanttoknowthecharacterwhichisbehindallthepersonalities。Aboveallwewanttoknowitsfoibles。Ifwehadonlyahintofsomeweaknesswemightmakeaplan。\'
\'Well，let\'ssetdownallweknow，\'Icried，forthemoreIarguedthekeenerIgrew。ItoldtheminsomedetailthestoryofthenightintheCoolinandwhatIhadheardthere。
\'There\'sthetwonamesCheliusandBommaerts。ThemanspoketheminthesamebreathasEffenbein，sotheymustbeassociatedwithIvery\'sgang。You\'vegottogetthewholeSecretServiceoftheAlliesbusytofitameaningtothesetwowords。Surelytogoodnessyou\'llfindsomething！Rememberthosenamesdon\'tbelongtotheIverypart，buttothebiggamebehindallthedifferentdisguises……Thenthere\'sthetalkabouttheWildBirdsandtheCageBirds。Ihaven\'taguessatwhatitmeans。Butitreferstosomeinfernalgang，andamongyourpilesofrecordstheremustbesomeclue。Yousettheintelligenceoftwohemispheresbusyonthejob。
You\'vegotallthemachinery，andit\'smyexperiencethatifevenonesolitarymankeepschewingonataproblemhediscoverssomething。\'
MyenthusiasmwasbeginningtostrikesparksfromMacgillivray。
Hewaslookingthoughtfulnow，insteadofdespondent。
\'Theremightbesomethinginthat，\'hesaid，\'butit\'safar-outchance。\'
\'Ofcourseit\'safar-outchance，andthat\'sallwe\'reevergoingtogetfromIvery。Butwe\'vetakenabadchancebeforeandwon……
Thenyou\'veallthatyouknowaboutIveryhere。Gothroughhis_dossierwithasmall-toothcombandI\'llbetyoufindsomethingtoworkon。Blenkiron，you\'reamanwithacoolhead。Youadmitwe\'veasportingchance。\'
\'Sure，Dick。He\'sfixedthingssothatthelinesareacrossthetrack，butwe\'llclearsomehow。SofarasJohnS。Blenkironisconcernedhe\'sgotjustonethingtodointhisworld，andthat\'stofollowtheyellowdogandhavehimneatlyandcleanlytidiedup。
I\'vegotastackofpersonalaffrontstosettle。Iwaseasyfruitandhehasn\'tbeenveryrespectful。Youcancountmein，Dick。\'
\'Thenwe\'reagreed，\'Icried。\'Well，gentlemen，it\'suptoyoutoarrangethefirststage。You\'vesomeprettysolidstaffworktoputinbeforeyougetonthetrail。\'
\'Andyou？\'SirWalterasked。
\'I\'mgoingbacktomybrigade。Iwantarestandachange。
Besides，thefirststageisofficework，andI\'mnouseforthat。ButI\'llbewaitingtobesummoned，andI\'llcomelikeashotassoonasyouhoickmeout。I\'vegotapresentimentaboutthisthing。Iknowthere\'llbeafinishandthatI\'llbeinatit，andIthinkitwillbeadesperate，bloodybusinesstoo。\'
IfoundMary\'seyesfixeduponme，andinthemIreadthesamethought。Shehadnotspokenaword，buthadsatontheedgeofachair，swingingafootidly，onehandplayingwithanivoryfan。ShehadgivenmemyoldordersandIlookedtoherforconfirmationofthenew。
\'MissLamington，youarethewisestofthelotofus。Whatdoyousay？\'
Shesmiled-thatshy，companionablesmilewhichIhadbeenpicturingtomyselfthroughallthewanderingsofthepastmonth。
\'Ithinkyouareright。We\'vealongwaytogoyet，fortheValleyofHumiliationcomesonlyhalf-wayinthe_Pilgrim\'s_Progress。ThenextstagewasVanityFair。Imightbeofsomeusethere，don\'tyouthink？\'
Irememberthewayshelaughedandflungbackherheadlikeagallantboy。
\'Themistakewe\'veallbeenmaking，\'shesaid，\'isthatourmethodsaretooterre-a-terre。We\'veapoettodealwith，agreatpoet，andwemustflingourimaginationsforwardtocatchupwithhim。Hisstrengthishisunexpectedness，youknow，andwewon\'tbeathimbyploddingonly。Ibelievethewildestcourseisthewisest，forit\'sthemostlikelytointersecthis……Who\'sthepoetamongus？\'
\'Peter，\'Isaid。\'Buthe\'spinneddownwithagameleginGermany。
Allthesamewemustropehimin。\'
Bythistimewehadallcheeredup，foritiswonderfulwhatatonicthereisinaprospectofaction。Thebutlerbroughtintea，whichitwasBullivant\'shabittodrinkafterdinner。TomeitseemedfantastictowatchaslipofagirlpouringitoutfortwogrizzledanddistinguishedservantsoftheStateandonebatteredsoldier-asdecorousafamilypartyasyouwouldasktosee-andtoreflectthatallfourwereengagedinanenterprisewheremen\'slivesmustbereckonedatlessthanthistledown。
AfterthatwewentupstairstoanobleGeorgiandrawing-roomandMaryplayedtous。Idon\'tcaretwostrawsformusicfromaninstrument-unlessitbethepipesoraregimentalband-butI
dearlylovethehumanvoice。Butshewouldnotsing，forsingingtoher，Ifancy，wassomethingthatdidnotcomeatwill，butflowedonlylikeabird\'snotewhenthemoodfavoured。Ididnotwantiteither。Iwascontenttolet\'CherryRipe\'betheonesonglinkedwithherinmymemory。
ItwasMacgillivraywhobroughtusbacktobusiness。
\'IwishtoHeaventherewasonehabitofmindwecoulddefinitelyattachtohimandtonooneelse。\'(Atthismoment\'He\'hadonlyonemeaningforus。)
\'Youcan\'tdonothingwithhismind，\'Blenkirondrawled。\'Youcan\'tloosethebandsofOrion，astheBiblesays，orholdLeviathanwithahook。IreckonedIcouldandmadeamightyclosestudyofhisde-vices。Butthedarnedcusswouldn\'tstayput。IthoughtIhadtiedhimdowntothedoublebluff，andhewentandplayedthetriplebluffonme。There\'snothingdoingthatline。\'
AmemoryofPeterrecurredtome。
\'Whataboutthe“blindspot“？\'Iasked，andItoldthemoldPeter\'spettheory。\'EverymanthatGodmadehashisweakspotsomewhere，someflawinhischaracterwhichleavesadullpatchinhisbrain。We\'vegottofindthatout，andIthinkI\'vemadeabeginning。\'
Macgillivrayinasharpvoiceaskedmymeaning。
\'He\'sinafunk……ofsomething。Oh，Idon\'tmeanhe\'sacoward。Amaninhistradewantsthenerveofabuffalo。Hecouldgiveusallpointsincourage。WhatImeanisthathe\'snotcleanwhiteallthrough。Thereareyellowstreakssomewhereinhim……
I\'vegivenagooddealofthoughttothiscouragebusiness，forI
haven\'tgotagreatdealofitmyself。NotlikePeter，Imean。I\'vegotheapsofsoftplacesinme。I\'mafraidofbeingdrownedforonething，orofgettingmyeyesshotout。Ivery\'safraidofbombs-atanyratehe\'safraidofbombsinabigcity。Ioncereadabookwhichtalkedaboutathingcalledagoraphobia。Perhapsit\'sthat……
Nowifweknowthatweakspotithelpsusinourwork。Therearesomeplaceshewon\'tgoto，andtherearesomethingshecan\'tdo-
notwell，anyway。Ireckonthat\'suseful。\'
\'Ye-es，\'saidMacgillivray。\'Perhapsit\'snotwhatyou\'dcallaburningandashininglight。\'
\'There\'sanotherchinkinhisarmour，\'Iwenton。\'There\'sonepersonintheworldhecanneverpractisehistransformationson，andthat\'sme。Ishallalwaysknowhimagain，thoughheappearedasSirDouglasHaig。Ican\'texplainwhy，butI\'vegotafeelinmybonesaboutit。Ididn\'trecognizehimbefore，forIthoughthewasdead，andthenerveinmybrainwhichshouldhavebeenlookingforhimwasn\'tworking。ButI\'monmyguardnow，andthatnerve\'sfunctioningatfullpower。Wheneverandwhereverandhowsoeverwemeetagainonthefaceoftheearth，itwillbe“DrLivingstone，Ipresume“betweenhimandme。\'
\'Thatisbetter，\'saidMacgillivray。\'Ifwehaveanyluck，Hannay，itwon\'tbelongtillwepullyououtofHisMajesty\'sForces。\'
MarygotupfromthepianoandresumedheroldperchonthearmofSirWalter\'schair。
\'There\'sanotherblindspotwhichyouhaven\'tmentioned。\'Itwasacoolevening，butInoticedthathercheekshadsuddenlyflushed。
\'LastweekMrIveryaskedmetomarryhim，\'shesaid。
PARTII
CHAPTERTWELVE
IBecomeaCombatantOnceMoreIreturnedtoFranceon13September，andtookovermyoldbrigadeonthe19thofthesamemonth。WewereshovedinatthePolygonWoodonthe26th，andafterfourdaysgotsobadlymauledthatwewerebroughtouttorefit。On7October，verymuchtomysurprise，IwasgivencommandofadivisionandwasonthefringesoftheYpresfightingduringthefirstdaysofNovember。
FromthatfrontwewerehurrieddowntoCambraiinsupport，butcameinonlyforthelastbackwashofthatsingularbattle。WeheldabitoftheStQuentinsectortilljustbeforeChristmas，whenwehadaspellofrestinbillets，whichendured，sofarasIwasconcerned，tillthebeginningofJanuary，whenIwassentoffontheerrandwhichIshallpresentlyrelate。
ThatisabriefsummaryofmymilitaryrecordinthelatterpartOf1917。Iamnotgoingtoenlargeonthefighting。ExceptforthedaysofthePolygonWooditwasneitherveryseverenorverydistinguished，andyouwillfinditinthehistorybooks。WhatI
havetotellofhereismyownpersonalquest，forallthetimeIwaslivingwithmymindturnedtwoways。InthemorassesoftheHaanebeekflats，intheslimysupportlinesatZonnebeke，inthetortureduplandsaboutFlesquieres，andinmanyotheroddplacesI
keptworryingatmyprivateconundrum。AtnightIwouldlieawakethinkingofit，andmanyatossItookintoshell-holesandmanyatimeIsteppedofftheduckboards，becausemyeyeswereonadifferentlandscape。NobodyeverchewedafewwretchedcluesintosuchapulpasIdidduringthosebleakmonthsinFlandersandPicardy。
ForIhadaninstinctthatthethingwasdesperatelygrave，gravereventhanthebattlebeforeme。Russiahadgoneheadlongtothedevil，Italyhadtakenitbetweentheeyesandwasstilldizzy，andourownprospectswerenonetoobright。TheBochewasgettinguppishandwithsomecause，andIforesawarockytimeaheadtillAmericacouldlineupwithusinthefield。ItwasthechancefortheWildBirds，andIusedtowakeinasweattothinkwhatdevilryIverymightbeengineering。IbelieveIdidmyproperjobreasonablywell，butIputinmymostsavagethinkingovertheother。I
rememberhowIusedtogoovereveryhourofeverydayfromthatJunenightintheCotswoldstillmylastmeetingwithBullivantinLondon，tryingtofindanewbearing。Ishouldprobablyhavegotbrain-fever，ifIhadn\'thadtospendmostofmydaysandnightsfightingastiffishbattlewithaverywatchfulHun。Thatkeptmymindbalanced，andIdaresayitgaveanedgetoit；forduringthosemonthsIwasluckyenoughtohitonabetterscentthanBullivantandMacgillivrayandBlenkiron，pullingathousandwiresintheirLondonoffices。
Iwillsetdowninorderoftimethevariousincidentsinthisprivatequestofmine。ThefirstwasmymeetingwithGeordieHamilton。IthappenedjustafterIrejoinedthebrigade，whenI
wentdowntohavealookatourScotsFusilierbattalion。Theoldbrigadehadbeenroughlyhandledon31stJuly，andhadhadtogetheavydraftstocomeanywherenearstrength。TheFusiliersespeciallywerealmostanewlot，formedbyjoiningourremnantstotheremainsofabattalioninanotherdivisionandbringingaboutadozenofficersfromthetrainingunitathome。
Iinspectedthemenandmyeyescaughtsightofafamiliarface。I
askedhisnameandthecolonelgotitfromthesergeant-major。ItwasLance-CorporalGeorgeHamilton。
NowIwantedanewbatman，andIresolvedthenandtheretohavemyoldantagonist。Thatafternoonhereportedtomeatbrigadeheadquarters。AsIlookedatthatsolidbandy-leggedfigure，standingasstifftoattentionasatobacconist\'ssign，hisuglyfacehewnoutofbrownoak，hishonest，sullenmouth，andhisblueeyesstaringintovacancy，IknewIhadgotthemanIwanted。
\'Hamilton，\'Isaid，\'youandIhavemetbefore。\'
\'Sirr？\'camethemystifiedanswer。
\'Lookatme，man，andtellmeifyoudon\'trecognizeme。\'
Hemovedhiseyesafraction，inarespectfulglance。
\'Sirr，Idon\'tmindofyou。\'
\'Well，I\'llrefreshyourmemory。DoyourememberthehallinNewmilnsStreetandthemeetingthere？Youhadafightwithamanoutside，andgotknockeddown。\'
Hemadenoanswer，buthiscolourdeepened。
\'Andafortnightlaterinapublic-houseinMuirtownyousawthesameman，andgavehimthechaseofhislife。\'
Icouldseehismouthset，forvisionsofthepenaltieslaiddownbytheKing\'sRegulationsforstrikinganofficermusthavecrossedhismind。Butheneverbudged。
\'Lookmeintheface，man，\'Isaid。\'Doyouremembermenow？\'
Hedidashewasbid。
\'Sirr，Imindofyou。\'
\'Haveyounothingmoretosay？\'
Heclearedhisthroat。\'Sirr，IdidnotkenIwashittin\'anofficer。\'
\'Ofcourseyoudidn\'t。Youdidperfectlyright，andifthewarwasoverandwewerebothfreemen，Iwouldgiveyouachanceofknockingmedownhereandnow。That\'sgottowait。WhenyousawmelastIwasservingmycountry，thoughyoudidn\'tknowit。
We\'reservingtogethernow，andyoumustgetyourrevengeoutoftheBoche。I\'mgoingtomakeyoumyservant，foryouandIhaveaprettyclosebondbetweenus。Whatdoyousaytothat？\'
Thistimehelookedmefullintheface。Histroubledeyeappraisedmeandwassatisfied。\'I\'mproudtobeservanttoye，sirr，\'hesaid。
Thenoutofhischestcameastrangledchuckle，andheforgothisdiscipline。\'Losh，butye\'rethegreatlad！\'Herecoveredhimselfpromptly，saluted，andmarchedoff。
ThesecondepisodebefellduringourbriefrestafterthePolygonWood，whenIhadriddendownthelineoneafternoontoseeafriendintheHeavyArtillery。Iwasreturninginthedrizzleofevening，clankingalongthegreasypathbetweenthesadpoplars，whenIstruckaLabourcompanyrepairingtheravagesofaBochestrafethatmorning。Iwasn\'tverycertainofmyroadandaskedoneoftheworkers。Hestraightenedhimselfandsaluted，andIsawbeneathadisreputablecapthefeaturesofthemanwhohadbeenwithmeintheCoolincrevice。
Ispokeawordtohissergeant，whofellhimout，andhewalkedabitofthewaywithme。
\'GreatScot，Wake，whatbroughtyouhere？\'Iasked。
\'Samethingasbroughtyou。Thisrottenwar。\'
Ihaddismountedandwaswalkingbesidehim，andInoticedthathisleanfacehadlostitspallorandthathiseyeswerelesshotthantheyusedtobe。
\'Youseemtothriveonit，\'Isaid，forIdidnotknowwhattosay。Asuddenshynesspossessedme。Wakemusthavegonethroughsomeviolentcyclonesoffeelingbeforeitcametothis。HesawwhatIwasthinkingandlaughedinhissharp，ironicalway。
\'Don\'tflatteryourselfyou\'vemadeaconvert。IthinkasIalwaysthought。ButIcametotheconclusionthatsincethefateshadmademeaGovernmentservantImightaswelldomyworksomewherelesscushionedthanachairintheHomeOffice……Oh，no，itwasn\'tamatterofprinciple。Onekindofwork\'sasgoodasanother，andI\'mabetterclerkthananavvy。Withmeitwasself-indulgence:
Iwantedfreshairandexercise。\'
Ilookedathim-mudtothewaist，andhishandsallblisteredandcutwithunaccustomedlabour。Icouldrealizewhathisassociatesmustmeantohim，andhowhewouldrelishtheroughtonguingofnon-coms。
\'You\'reaconfoundedhumbug，\'Isaid。\'Whyonearthdidn\'tyougointoanO。T。C。andcomeoutwithacommission？They\'reeasyenoughtoget。\'
\'Youmistakemycase，\'hesaidbitterly。\'Iexperiencednosuddenconvictionaboutthejusticeofthewar。IstandwhereIalwaysstood。I\'manon-combatant，andIwantedachangeofcivilianwork……No，itwasn\'tanyidiotictribunalsentmehere。Icameofmyownfreewill，andI\'mreallyratherenjoyingmyself。\'
\'It\'saroughjobforamanlikeyou，\'Isaid。
\'Notsoroughasthefellowsgetinthetrenches。Iwatchedabattalionmarchingbacktodayandtheylookedlikeghostswhohadbeenyearsinmuddygraves。Whitefacesanddazedeyesandleadenfeet。Mine\'sacushyjob。Ilikeitbestwhentheweather\'sfoul。ItcheatsmeintothinkingI\'mdoingmyduty。\'
Inoddedtowardsarecentshell-hole。\'Muchofthatsortofthing？\'
\'Nowandthen。Wehadagooddustingthismorning。Ican\'tsayIlikeditatthetime，butIliketolookbackonit。Asortofmoralanodyne。\'
\'Iwonderwhatonearththerestofyourlotmakeofyou？\'
\'Theydon\'tmakeanything。I\'mnotremarkableformy_bonhomie。
TheythinkI\'maprig-whichIam。Itdoesn\'tamusemetotalkaboutbeerandwomenorlistentoagramophoneorgrouseaboutmylastmeal。ButI\'mquitecontent，thankyou。SometimesIgetaseatinacornerofaY。M。C。A。hut，andI\'veabookortwo。Mychiefafflictionisthepadre。HewasupatKebleinmytime，and，asoneofmycolleaguesputsit，wantstobe“toobloodyhelpful“……
Whatareyoudoing，Hannay？Iseeyou\'resomekindofgeneral。
They\'reprettythickonthegroundhere。\'
\'I\'masortofgeneral。SoldieringintheSalientisn\'tthesoftestofjobs，butIdon\'tbelieveit\'sastoughasyoursisforyou。D\'youknow，Wake，IwishIhadyouinmybrigade。Trainedoruntrained，you\'readashedstout-heartedfellow。\'
Helaughedwithatriflelessaciditythanusual。\'Almostthoupersuadestmetobecombatant。No，thankyou。Ihaven\'tthecourage，andbesidesthere\'smyjollyoldprinciples。AllthesameI\'dliketobenearyou。You\'reagoodchap，andI\'vehadthehonourtoassistinyoureducation……Imustbegettingback，orthesergeantwillthinkI\'vebolted。\'
Weshookhands，andthelastIsawofhimwasafiguresalutingstifflyinthewettwilight。
Thethirdincidentwastrivialenough，thoughmomentousinitsresults。justbeforeIgotthedivisionIhadaboutofmalaria。WewereinsupportintheSalient，inveryuncomfortabletrenchesbehindWieltje，andIspentthreedaysonmybackinadug-out。
Outsidewasablizzardofrain，andthewaternowandthencamedownthestairsthroughthegascurtainandstoodinpoolsatmybedfoot。Itwasn\'tthemerriestplacetoconvalescein，butIwasashardasnailsatthetimeandbythethirddayIwasbeginningtositupandbebored。
IreadallmyEnglishpaperstwiceandabigstackofGermanoneswhichIusedtohavesentupbyafriendintheG。H。Q。
Intelligence，whoknewIlikedtofollowwhattheBochewassaying。AsIdozedandruminatedinthewayamandoesafterfever，IwasstruckbythetremendousdisplayofoneadvertisementintheEnglishpress。Itwasathingcalled\'Gussiter\'sDeep-breathingSystem，\'which，accordingtoitspromoter，wasacureforeveryill，mental，moral，orphysical，thatmancansuffer。Politicians，generals，admirals，andmusic-hallartistsalltestifiedtothenewlifeithadopenedupforthem。Irememberwonderingwhatthesesportsmengotfortheirtestimonies，andthinkingIwouldwriteaspooflettermyselftooldGussiter。
ThenIpickeduptheGermanpapers，andsuddenlymyeyecaughtanadvertisementofthesamekindinthe_Frankfurter_Zeitung。
ItwasnotGussiterthistime，butoneWeissmann，buthisgamewasidentical-\'deepbreathing\'。TheHunstylewasdifferentfromtheEnglish-allabouttheGoddessofHealth，andtheNymphsoftheMountains，andtwoquotationsfromSchiller。Buttheprinciplewasthesame。
Thatmademeponderalittle，andIwentcarefullythroughthewholebatch。Ifoundtheadvertisementinthe_Frankfurterandinoneortworatherobscure_Volkstimmesand_Volkszeitungs。Ifoundittooin_Der_Grosse_Krieg，theofficialGermanpropagandistpicture-
paper。Theywerethesameallbutone，andthatonehadaboldvariation，foritcontainedfourofthesentencesusedintheordinaryEnglishadvertisement。
Thisstruckmeasfishy，andIstartedtowritealettertoMacgillivraypointingoutwhatseemedtobeacaseoftradingwiththeenemy，andadvisinghimtogetontoMrGussiter\'sfinancialbacking。IthoughthemightfindaHunsyndicatebehindhim。AndthenIhadanothernotion，whichmademerewritemyletter。
Iwentthroughthepapersagain。TheEnglishoneswhichcontainedtheadvertisementwereallgood，solid，bellicoseorgans；thekindofthingnocensorshipwouldobjecttoleavingthecountry。I
hadbeforemeasmallsheafofpacifistprints，andtheyhadnottheadvertisement。Thatmightbeforreasonsofcirculation，oritmightnot。TheGermanpaperswereeitherRadicalorSocialistpublications，justtheoppositeoftheEnglishlot，exceptthe_Grosse_Krieg。Nowwehaveafreepress，andGermanyhas，strictlyspeaking，none。Allherjournalisticindiscretionsarecalculated。ThereforetheBochehasnoobjectiontohisragsgettingtoenemycountries。Hewantsit。Helikestoseethemquotedincolumnsheaded\'ThroughGermanGlasses\'，andmadethetextofarticlesshowingwhatagooddemocratheisbecoming。
AsIpuzzledoverthesubject，certainconclusionsbegantoforminmymind。Thefouridenticalsentencesseemedtohintthat\'DeepBreathing\'hadBocheaffiliations。Herewasachanceofcommunicatingwiththeenemywhichwoulddefytheargus-eyedgentlemenwhoexaminethemails。WhatwastohinderMrAatoneendwritinganadvertisementwithagoodcipherinit，andthepapercontainingitgettingintoGermanybyHollandinthreedays？HerrBattheotherendrepliedinthe_Frankfurter，andafewdayslatershrewdeditorsandacuteIntelligenceofficers-andMrA-werereadingitinLondon，thoughonlyMrAknewwhatitreallymeant。
Itstruckmeasabrightidea，thesortofsimplethingthatdoesn\'toccurtocleverpeople，andveryrarelytotheBoche。IwishedIwasnotinthemiddleofabattle，forIwouldhavehadatryatinvestigatingtheciphermyself。IwrotealonglettertoMacgillivrayputtingmycase，andthenwenttosleep。WhenIawokeIreflectedthatitwasaprettythinargument，andwouldhavestoppedtheletter，ifithadn\'tgoneoffearlybyarationparty。
Afterthatthingsbeganveryslowlytohappen。ThefirstwaswhenHamilton，havinggonetoBoulognetofetchsomemess-
stores，returnedwiththestartlingnewsthathehadseenGresson。
Hehadnotheardhisname，butdescribedhimdramaticallytomeastheweered-headeddevilthatkickedEckyBrockie\'skneeyontimeinGlesca，sirr，\'Irecognizedthedescription。
Gresson，itappeared，wasjoy-riding。HewaswithapartyofLabourdelegateswhohadbeenmetbytwoofficersandcarriedoffinchars-a-bancs。Hamiltonreportedfrominquiriesamonghisfriendsthatthiskindofvisitorcameweekly。IthoughtitaverysensiblenotionontheGovernment\'spart，butIwonderedhowGressonhadbeenselected。IhadhopedthatMacgillivrayhadweeksagomadealongarmandquoddedhim。Perhapstheyhadtoolittleevidencetohanghim，buthewastheblackestsortofsuspectandshouldhavebeeninterned。
AweeklaterIhadoccasiontobeatG。H。Q。onbusinessconnectedwithmynewdivision。MyfriendsintheIntelligenceallowedmetousethedirectlinetoLondon，andIcalledupMacgillivray。
FortenminutesIhadanexcitingtalk，forIhadhadnonewsfromthatquartersinceIleftEngland。IheardthatthePortugueseJewhadescaped-hadvanishedfromhisnativeheatherwhentheywenttogethim。TheyhadidentifiedhimasaGermanprofessorofCelticlanguages，whohadheldachairinaWelshcollege-adangerousfellow，forhewasanupright，high-minded，ragingfanatic。
AgainstGressontheyhadnoevidenceatall，buthewaskeptunderstrictobservation。WhenIaskedabouthiscrossingtoFrance，Macgillivrayrepliedthatthatwaspartoftheirscheme。Iinquiredifthevisithadgiventhemanyclues，butInevergotananswer，forthelinehadtobeclearedatthatmomentfortheWarOffice。
IhuntedupthemanwhohadchargeoftheseLabourvisits，andmadefriendswithhim。Gresson，hesaid，hadbeenaquiet，well-
mannered，andmostappreciativeguest。HehadwepttearsonVimyRidge，and-strictlyagainstorders-hadmadeaspeechtosometroopshemetontheArrasroadabouthowBritishLabourwasrememberingtheArmyinitsprayersandsweatingbloodtomakeguns。Onthelastdayhehadhadamisadventure，forhegotverysickontheroad-somekidneytroublethatcouldn\'tstandthejoltingofthecar-andhadtobeleftatavillageandpickedupbythepartyonitswayback。Theyfoundhimbetter，butstillshaky。I
cross-examinedtheparticularofficerinchargeaboutthathalt，andlearnedthatGressonhadbeenleftaloneinapeasant\'scottage，forhesaidheonlyneededtoliedown。TheplacewasthehamletofEaucourtSainte-Anne。
Forseveralweeksthatnamestuckinmyhead。Ithadapleasant，quaintsound，andIwonderedhowGressonhadspenthishoursthere。Ihuntedituponthemap，andpromisedmyselftohavealookatitthenexttimewecameouttorest。AndthenIforgotaboutittillIheardthenamementionedagain。
On23rdOctoberIhadthebadluck，duringatourofmyfirst-
linetrenches，tostopasmallshell-fragmentwithmyhead。Itwasaclose，mistydayandIhadtakenoffmytinhattowipemybrowwhenthethinghappened。Igotalong，shallowscalpwoundwhichmeantnothingbutbledalot，and，aswewerenotinforanybigmove，theM。O。sentmebacktoaclearingstationtohaveitseento。Iwasthreedaysintheplaceand，beingperfectlywell，hadleisuretolookaboutmeandreflect，sothatIrecallthattimeasaqueer，restfulinterludeintheinfernalracketofwar。
Irememberyethowonmylastnightthereagalemadethelampsswingandflicker，andturnedthegrey-greencanvaswallsintoamassofmottledshadows。Thefloorcanvaswasmuddyfromthetrampingofmanyfeetbringingintheconstantdribbleofcasualtiesfromtheline。Inmytenttherewasnooneverybadatthetime，exceptaboywithhisshoulderhalf-blownoffbyawhizz-bang，wholayinadruggedsleepatthefarend。Themajoritywereinfluenza，bronchitis，andtrench-fever-waitingtobemovedtothebase，orconvalescentandabouttoreturntotheirunits。
Asmallgroupofusdinedofftinnedchicken，stewedfruit，andradoncheeseroundthesmokystove，wheretwoscreensmanufacturedfrompackingcasesgavesomeprotectionagainstthedraughtswhichsweptlikeyoungtornadoesdownthetent。Onemanhadbeenreadingabookcalledthe__GhostStoriesofan_Antiquary，andthetalkturnedontheunexplainablethingsthathappentoeverybodyonceortwiceinalifetime。IcontributedayarnaboutthemenwhowenttolookforKruger\'streasureinthebushveldandgotscaredbyagreenwildebeeste。ItisagoodyarnandI\'llwriteitdownsomeday。AtallHighlander，whokepthisslipperedfeetonthetopofthestove，andwhosecostumeconsistedofakilt，aBritishwarm，agreyhospitaldressing-gown，andfourpairsofsocks，toldthestoryoftheCameronsatFirstYpres，andoftheLowlandsubalternwhoknewnoGaelicandsuddenlyfoundhimselfencouraginghismenwithsomeancientHighlandrigmarole。Thepoorchaphadarackingbronchialcough，whichsuggestedthathiscountrymightwellusehimonsomewarmerbattle-groundthanFlanders。HeseemedabitofascholarandexplainedtheCameronbusinessinalotoflongwords。
Irememberhowthetalkmeanderedonastalkdoeswhenmenareidleandthinkingaboutthenextday。Ididn\'tpaymuchattention，forIwasreflectingonachangeImeanttomakeinoneofmybattalioncommands，whenafreshvoicebrokein。ItbelongedtoaCanadiancaptainfromWinnipeg，averysilentfellowwhosmokedshagtobacco。
\'There\'salotofghostsinthisdarnedcountry，\'hesaid。
Thenhestartedtotellaboutwhathappenedtohimwhenhisdivisionwaslastbackinrestbillets。HehadastaffjobandputupwiththedivisionalcommandatanoldFrenchchateau。Theyhadonlyalittlebitofthehouse；therestwasshutup，butthepassagesweresotortuousthatitwasdifficulttokeepfromwanderingintotheunoccupiedpart。Onenight，hesaid，hewokewithamightythirst，and，sincehewasn\'tgoingtogetcholerabydrinkingthelocalwaterinhisbedroom，hestartedoutfortheroomtheymessedintotrytopickupawhisky-and-soda。Hecouldn\'tfindit，thoughheknewtheroadlikehisownname。Headmittedhemighthavetakenawrongturning，buthedidn\'tthinkso。Anywayhelandedinapassagewhichhehadneverseenbefore，and，sincehehadnocandle，hetriedtoretracehissteps。Againhewentwrong，andgropedontillhesawafaintlightwhichhethoughtmustbetheroomoftheG。S。O。，agoodfellowandafriendofhis。Sohebargedin，andfoundabig，dimsalonwithtwofiguresinitandalampburningbetweenthem，andaqueer，unpleasantsmellabout。
Hetookastepforward，andthenhesawthatthefigureshadnofaces。Thatfairlyloosenedhisjointswithfear，andhegaveacry。
Oneofthetworantowardshim，thelampwentout，andthesicklyscentcaughtsuddenlyathisthroat。Afterthatheknewnothingtillheawokeinhisownbednextmorningwithasplittingheadache。
HesaidhegottheGeneral\'spermissionandwentoveralltheunoccupiedpartofthehouse，buthecouldn\'tfindtheroom。Dustlaythickoneverything，andtherewasnosignofrecenthumanpresence。
Igivethestoryashetolditinhisdrawlingvoice。\'Ireckonthatwasthegenuinearticleinghosts。Youdon\'tbelievemeandconcludeIwasdrunk？Iwasn\'t。Thereisn\'tanydrinkconcoctedyetthatcouldlaymeoutlikethat。Ijuststruckacrackintheolduniverseandpushedmyheadoutside。Itmayhappentoyouboysanyday。\'
TheHighlanderbegantoarguewithhim，andIlostinterestinthetalk。Butonephrasebroughtmetoattention。\'I\'llgiveyouthenameofthedarnedplace，andnexttimeyou\'rearoundyoucandoabitofprospectingforyourself。It\'scalledtheChateauofEaucourtSainte-Anne，aboutsevenkilometresfromDouvecourt。IfIwaspurchasingrealestateinthiscountryIguessI\'dgivethatlocationamiss。\'
AfterthatIhadagrimmonth，whatwiththefinishofThirdYpresandthehustlestoCambrai。BythemiddleofDecemberwehadshakendownabit，butthelinemydivisionheldwasnotofourchoosing，andwehadtokeepawaryeyeontheBochedoings。Itwasawearyjob，andIhadnotimetothinkofanythingbutthemilitarykindofintelligence-fixingtheunitsagainstusfromprisoners\'stories，organizingsmallraids，andkeepingtheRoyalFlyingCorpsbusy。Iwaskeenaboutthelast，andImadeseveraltripsmyselfoverthelineswithArchieRoylance，whohadgothisheart\'sdesireandbygoodluckbelongedtothesquadronjustbehindme。Isaidaslittleaspossibleaboutthis，forG。H。Q。didnotencouragedivisionalgeneralstopractisesuchmethods，thoughtherewasonefamousarmycommanderwhomadeahobbyofthem。Itwasononeofthesetripsthatanincidentoccurredwhichbroughtmyspellofwaitingonthebiggergametoanend。
OnedullDecemberday，justafterluncheon，ArchieandIsetouttoreconnoitre。YouknowthewaythatfogsinPicardyseemsuddenlytoreekoutofthegroundandenveloptheslopeslikeashawl。Thatwasourluckthistime。Wehadcrossedthelines，flyingveryhigh，andreceivedtheusualsaluteofHunArchies。Afteramileortwothegroundseemedtoclimbuptous，thoughwehadn\'tdescended，andpresentlywewereintheheartofacold，clingingmist。Wedivedforseveralthousandfeet，buttheconfoundedthinggrewthickerandnosortoflandmarkcouldbefoundanywhere。Ithoughtifwewentonatthisrateweshouldhitatreeorachurchsteepleandbeeasyfruitfortheenemy。
ThesamethoughtmusthavebeeninArchie\'smind，forheclimbedagain。Wegotintoamortallycoldzone，buttheairwasnoclearer。Thereuponhedecidedtoheadforhome，andpassedmewordtoworkoutacompasscourseonthemap。Thatwaseasiersaidthandone，butIhadaroughnotionoftheratewehadtravelledsincewehadcrossedthelinesandIknewouroriginaldirection，soIdidthebestIcould。Onwewentforabit，andthenIbegantogetdoubtful。SodidArchie。Wedroppedlowdown，butwecouldhearnoneoftherowthat\'salwaysgoingonforamileoneachsideofthelines。Theworldwasveryeerieanddeadlystill，sostillthatArchieandIcouldtalkthroughthespeaking-tube。
\'We\'vemislaidthisblamedbattle，\'heshouted。
\'Ithinkyourrottenoldcompasshassouredonus，\'Ireplied。
Wedecidedthatitwouldn\'tdotochangedirection，soweheldonthesamecourse。Iwasgettingasnervousasakitten，chieflyowingtothesilence。It\'snotwhatyouexpectinthemiddleofabattle-field……Ilookedatthecompasscarefullyandsawthatitwasreallycrocked。Archiemusthavedamageditonaformerflightandforgottentohaveitchanged。
HehadaveryscaredfacewhenIpointedthisout。
\'GreatGod！\'hecroaked-forhehadafearsomecold-\'we\'reeitheraboutCalaisornearParisormilesthewrongsideoftheBocheline。Whatthedevilarewetodo？\'
Andthentoputthelidonithisenginewentwrong。ItwasthesameperformanceasontheYorkshiremoors，andseemedtobeaspecialityoftheShark-Gladastype。Butthistimetheendcamequick。Wedivedsteeply，andIcouldseebyArchie\'sgriponthestickthathewasgoingtohavehisworkcutouttosaveournecks。Savethemhedid，butnotbymuchforwejolteddownontheedgeofaploughedfieldwithaseriesofbumpsthatshooktheteethinmyhead。Itwasthesamedense，drippingfog，andwecrawledoutoftheoldbusandboltedforcoverliketwoferretedrabbits。
Ourrefugewastheleeofasmallcopse。
\'It\'smyopinion，\'saidArchiesolemnly，\'thatwe\'resomewhereaboutLaCateau。TimWilbrahamgotleftthereintheRetreat，andittookhimninemonthstomaketheDutchfrontier。It\'sagiddyprospect，sir。\'
Isalliedouttoreconnoitre。Attheothersideofthewoodwasahighway，andthefogsoblanketedsoundthatIcouldnothearamanonittillIsawhisface。ThefirstoneIsawmademelieflatinthecovert……ForhewasaGermansoldier，field-grey，foragecap，redbandandall，andhehadapickonhisshoulder。
Asecond\'sreflectionshowedmethatthiswasnotfinalproof。
Hemightbeoneofourprisoners。Butitwasnoplacetotakechances。IwentbacktoArchie，andthepairofuscrossedtheploughedfieldandstrucktheroadfartheron。Therewesawafarmer\'scartwithawomanandchildinit。TheylookedFrench，butmelancholy，justwhatyouwouldexpectfromtheinhabitantsofacountrysideinenemyoccupation。
Thenwecametotheparkwallofagreathouse，andsawdimlytheoutlinesofacottage。Heresoonerorlaterwewouldgetproofofourwhereabouts，sowelayandshiveredamongthepoplarsoftheroadside。Nooneseemedabroadthatafternoon。Foraquarterofanhouritwasasquietasthegrave。Thencameasoundofwhistling，andmuffledsteps。
\'That\'sanEnglishman，\'saidArchiejoyfully。\'NoBochecouldmakesuchabeastlynoise。\'
Hewasright。TheformofanArmyServiceCorpsprivateemergedfromthemist，hiscaponthebackofhishead，hishandsinhispockets，andhiswalkthewalkofafreeman。Ineversawawelcomersightthanthatjam-merchant。
Westoodupandgreetedhim。\'What\'sthisplace？\'Ishouted。
Heraisedagrubbyhandtohisforelock。
\'OckottSaintAnny，sir，\'hesaid。\'Begpardon，sir，butyouain\'thurt，sir？\'
TenminuteslaterIwashavingteainthemessofanM。T。
workshopwhileArchiehadgonetothenearestSignalstotelephoneforacarandgiveinstructionsabouthispreciousbus。Itwasalmostdark，butIgulpedmyteaandhastenedoutintothethickdusk。ForIwantedtohavealookattheChateau。
Ifoundabigentrancewithhighstonepillars，buttheirongateswerelockedandlookedasiftheyhadnotbeenopenedinthememoryofman。Knowingthewayofsuchplaces，Ihuntedforthesideentranceandfoundamuddyroadwhichledtothebackofthehouse。Thefrontwasevidentlytowardsakindofpark；atthebackwasanestofoutbuildingsandasectionofmoatwhichlookedverydeepandblackinthewintertwilight。Thiswascrossedbyastonebridgewithadoorattheendofit。
ClearlytheChateauwasnotbeingusedforbillets。TherewasnosignoftheBritishsoldier；therewasnosignofanythinghuman。I
creptthroughthefogasnoiselesslyasifItrodonvelvet，andI
hadn\'teventhecompanyofmyownfootsteps。IrememberedtheCanadian\'sghoststory，andconcludedIwouldbeimaginingthesamesortofthingifIlivedinsuchaplace。
Thedoorwasboltedandpadlocked。Iturnedalongthesideofthemoat，hopingtoreachthehousefront，whichwasprobablymodernandboastedacivilizedentrance。Theremustbesomebodyintheplace，foronechimneywassmoking。Presentlythemoatpeteredout，andgaveplacetoacobbledcauseway，butawall，runningatrightangleswiththehouse，blockedmyway。Ihadhalfamindtogobackandhammeratthedoor，butIreflectedthatmajor-generalsdon\'tpayvisitstodesertedchateauxatnightwithoutareasonableerrand。Ishouldlookafoolintheeyesofsomeoldconcierge。Thedaylightwasalmostgone，andIdidn\'twishtogogropingaboutthehousewithacandle。
ButIwantedtoseewhatwasbeyondthewall-oneofthosewhimsthatbesetthesoberestmen。Irolledadissolutewater-butttothefootofit，andgingerlybalancedmyselfonitsrottenstaves。
Thisgavemeagripontheflatbricktop，andIpulledmyselfup。
Ilookeddownonalittlecourtyardwithanotherwallbeyondit，whichshutoffanyviewofthepark。OntherightwastheChateau，ontheleftmoreoutbuildings；thewholeplacewasnotmorethantwentyyardseachway。IwasjustabouttoretirebytheroadIhadcome，forinspiteofmyfurcoatitwasuncommonchillyonthatperch，whenIheardakeyturninthedoorintheChateauwallbeneathme。
Alanternmadeabluroflightinthemistydarkness。Isawthatthebearerwasawoman，anoldishwoman，round-shoulderedlikemostFrenchpeasants。Inonehandshecarriedaleatherbag，andshemovedsosilentlythatshemusthavewornrubberboots。Thelightwasheldlevelwithherheadandilluminedherface。ItwastheevillestthingIhaveeverbeheld，forahorriblescarhadpuckeredtheskinoftheforeheadanddrawnuptheeyebrowssothatitlookedlikesomediabolicalChinesemask。
Slowlyshepaddedacrosstheyard，carryingthebagasgingerlyasifithadbeenaninfant。Shestoppedatthedoorofoneoftheouthousesandsetdownthelanternandherburdenontheground。
Fromherapronshedrewsomethingwhichlookedlikeagas-mask，andputitoverherhead。Shealsoputonapairoflonggauntlets。
Thensheunlockedthedoor，pickedupthelanternandwentin。I
heardthekeyturnbehindher。
Crouchingonthatwall，Ifeltaveryuglytremorrundownmyspine。IhadaglimpseofwhattheCanadian\'sghostmighthavebeen。Thathag，hoodedlikesomevenomoussnake，wastoomuchformystomach。Idroppedoffthewallandran-yes，rantillI
reachedthehighroadandsawthecheeryheadlightsofatransportwagon，andheardthehonestspeechoftheBritishsoldier。Thatrestoredmetomysenses，andmademefeeleverykindofafool。
AsIdrovebacktothelinewithArchie，Iwasblackashamedofmyfunk。ItoldmyselfthatIhadseenonlyanoldcountrywomangoingtofeedherhens。Iconvincedmyreason，butIdidnotconvincethewholeofme。Aninsensatedreadoftheplacehungaroundme，andIcouldonlyretrievemyself-respectbyresolvingtoreturnandexploreeverynookofit。
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
TheAdventureofthePicardyChateauIlookedupEaucourtSainte-Anneonthemap，andthemoreI
studieditspositionthelessIlikedit。ItwastheknotfromwhichsprangallthemainroutestoourPicardyfront。IftheBocheeverbrokeus，itwastheplaceforwhicholdHindenburgwouldmake。
Atallhourstroopsandtransporttrainsweremovingthroughthatinsignificanthamlet。EminentgeneralsandtheirstaffspasseddailywithinsightoftheChateau。Itwasaconvenienthalting-placeforbattalionscomingbacktorest。Supposing，Iargued，ourenemieswantedakey-spotforsomeassaultuponthemoraleorthedisciplineorhealthoftheBritishArmy，theycouldn\'tfindabetterthanEaucourtSainte-Anne。Itwastheidealcentreofespionage。ButwhenIguardedlysoundedmyfriendsoftheIntelligencetheydidn\'tseemtobeworryingaboutit。
FromthemIgotachittothelocalFrenchauthorities，and，assoonaswecameoutoftheline，towardstheendofDecember，I
madestraightforthecountrytownofDouvecourt。Byabitofluckourdivisionalquarterswerealmostnextdoor。Iinterviewedatremendousswellinablackuniformandblackkidgloves，whoreceivedmeaffablyandputhisarchivesandregistersatmydisposal。
BythistimeItalkedFrenchfairlywell，havinganaturalturnforlanguages，buthalftherapidspeechofthesous-prifetwaslostonme。Byandbyheleftmewiththepapersandaclerk，andI
proceededtogrubupthehistoryoftheChateau。
IthadbelongedsincelongbeforeAgincourttothenoblehouseoftheD\'Eaucourts，nowrepresentedbyanancientMarquisewhodweltatBiarritz。Shehadneverlivedintheplace，whichadozenyearsbeforehadbeenfallingtoruins，whenarichAmericanleaseditandpartiallyrestoredit。Hehadsoongotsickofit-hisdaughterhadmarriedablackguardFrenchcavalryofficerwithwhomhequarrelled，saidtheclerk-andsincethentherehadbeenseveraltenants。Iwonderedwhyahousesounattractiveshouldhaveletsoreadily，buttheclerkexplainedthatthecausewasthepartridge-shooting。ItwasaboutthebestinFrance，andin1912
hadshowntherecordbag。
Thelistofthetenantswasbeforeme。TherewasasecondAmerican，anEnglishmancalledHalford，aParisJew-banker，andanEgyptianprince。Butthespacefor1913wasblank，andIaskedtheclerkaboutit。HetoldmethatithadbeentakenbyawoollenmanufacturerfromLille，buthehadnevershotthepartridges，thoughhehadspentoccasionalnightsinthehouse。Hehadafiveyears\'lease，andwasstillpayingrenttotheMarquise。Iaskedthename，buttheclerkhadforgotten。\'Itwillbewrittenthere，\'hesaid。
\'But，no，\'Isaid。\'Somebodymusthavebeenasleepoverthisregister。There\'snothingafter1912。\'
Heexaminedthepageandblinkedhiseyes。\'Someoneindeedmusthaveslept。NodoubtitwasyoungLouiswhoisnowwiththegunsinChampagne。ButthenamewillbeontheCommissary\'slist。
Itis，asIremember，asortofFlemish。\'
Hehobbledoffandreturnedinfiveminutes。
\'Bommaerts，\'hesaid，\'JacquesBommaerts。Ayoungmanwithnowifebutwithmoney-DieudeDieu，whatoceansofit！\'
Thatclerkgottwenty-fivefrancs，andhewascheapattheprice。
Iwentbacktomydivisionwithasenseofaweonme。Itwasamarvellousfatethathadbroughtmebyoddroutestothisout-of-the-waycorner。First，theaccidentofHamilton\'sseeingGresson；
thenthenightintheClearingStation；lastthemishapofArchie\'splanegettinglostinthefog。Ihadthreegroundsofsuspicion-
Gresson\'ssuddenillness，theCanadian\'sghost，andthathorridoldwomaninthedusk。AndnowIhadonetremendousfact。TheplacewasleasedbyamancalledBommaerts，andthatwasoneofthetwonamesIhadheardwhisperedinthatfar-awaycleftintheCoolinbythestrangerfromthesea。
Asensiblemanwouldhavegoneofftothecontre-espionagepeopleandtoldthemhisstory。Icouldn\'tdothis；IfeltthatitwasmyownprivatefindandIwasgoingtodotheprospectingmyself。EverymomentofleisureIhadIwaspuzzlingoverthething。IroderoundbytheChateauonefrostymorningandexaminedalltheentrances。Themainonewasthegrandavenuewiththelockedgates。Thatledstraighttothefrontofthehousewheretheterracewas-oryoumightcallittheback，forthemaindoorwasontheotherside。Anyhowthedrivecameuptotheedgeoftheterraceandthensplitintotwo，onebranchgoingtothestablesbywayoftheoutbuildingswhereIhadseentheoldwoman，theothercirclingroundthehouse，skirtingthemoat，andjoiningthebackroadjustbeforethebridge。IfIhadgonetotherightinsteadoftheleftthatfirsteveningwithArchie，Ishouldhavecircumnavigatedtheplacewithoutanytrouble。
Seeninthefreshmorninglightthehouselookedcommonplaceenough。PartofitwasasoldasNoah，butmostwasnewishandjerry-built，thekindofflat-chested，thinFrenchChateau，allfrontandnodepth，andfullofdraughtsandsmokychimneys。Imighthavegoneinandransackedtheplace，butIknewIshouldfindnothing。ItwasborneinonmethatitwasonlywheneveningfellthatthathousewasinterestingandthatImustcome，likeNicodemus，bynight。BesidesIhadaprivateaccounttosettlewithmyconscience。Ihadfunkedtheplaceinthefoggytwilight，anditdoesnotdotoletamatterlikethatslide。Aman\'scourageislikeahorsethatrefusesafence；youhavegottotakehimbytheheadandcramhimatitagain。Ifyoudon\'t，hewillfunkworsenexttime。Ihadn\'tenoughcouragetobeabletotakechanceswithit，thoughIwasafraidofmanythings，thethingIfearedmostmortallywasbeingafraid。
IdidnotgetachancetillChristmasEve。Thedaybeforetherehadbeenafallofsnow，butthefrostsetinandtheafternoonendedinagreensunsetwiththeearthcrispandcracklinglikeashark\'sskin。Idinedearly，andtookwithmeGeordieHamilton，whoaddedtohismanyaccomplishmentsthatofdrivingacar。HewastheonlymanintheB。E。F。whoguessedanythingofthegameI
wasafter，andIknewthathewasasdiscreetasatombstone。Iputonmyoldesttrenchcap，slacks，andapairofscaife-soledboots，thatIusedtochangeintointheevening。Ihadausefullittleelectrictorch，whichlivedinmypocket，andfromwhichacordledtoasmallbulboflightthatworkedwithaswitchandcouldbehungonmybelt。Thatleftmyarmsfreeincaseofemergencies。
LikewiseIstrappedonmypistol。
TherewaslittletrafficinthehamletofEaucourtSainte-Annethatnight。Fewcarswereontheroad，andtheM。T。detachment，judgingfromthedin，seemedtobebusyonaprivatespree。Itwasaboutnineo\'clockwhenweturnedintothesideroad，andattheentrancetoitIsawasolidfigureinkhakimountingguardbesidetwobicycles。Somethingintheman\'sgesture，ashesaluted，struckmeasfamiliar，butIhadnotimetohuntforcasualmemories。Ileftthecarjustshortofthebridge，andtooktheroadwhichwouldbringmetotheterracedfrontofthehouse。
OnceIturnedthecorneroftheChateauandsawthelongghostlyfacadewhiteinthemoonlight，Ifeltlessconfident。Theeerinessoftheplacesmoteme。Inthatstill，snowyworlditloomedupimmenseandmysteriouswithitsrowsofshutteredwindows，eachwiththatairwhichemptyhouseshaveofconcealingsomewildstory。IlongedtohaveoldPeterwithme，forhewasthemanforthiskindofescapade。IhadheardthathehadbeenremovedtoSwitzerlandandIpicturedhimnowinsomemountainvillagewherethesnowlaydeep。IwouldhavegivenanythingtohavehadPeterwithawholelegbymyside。
Isteppedontheterraceandlistened。Therewasnotasoundintheworld，noteventhedistantrumbleofacart。Thepiletoweredabovemelikeamausoleum，andIreflectedthatitmusttakesomenervetoburgleanemptyhouse。Itwouldbegoodenoughfuntobreakintoabustlingdwellingandpinchtheplatewhenthefolkwereatdinner，buttoburgleemptinessandsilencemeantafightwiththeterrorsinaman\'ssoul。Itwasworseinmycase，forI
wasn\'tcheeredwithprospectsofloot。Iwantedtogetinsidechieflytosoothemyconscience。
Ihadn\'tmuchdoubtIwouldfindaway，forthreeyearsofwarandthefrequentpresenceofuntidyheadquarters\'staffshaveloosenedthejointsofmostPicardyhouses。There\'sgenerallyawindowthatdoesn\'tlatchoradoorthatdoesn\'tbar。ButItriedwindowafterwindowontheterracewithoutresult。Theheavygreensun-shuttersweredownovereach，andwhenIbrokethehingesofonetherewasalongbarwithintoholditfirm。Iwasbeginningtothinkofshinninguparain-pipeandtryingthesecondfloor，whenashutterIhadlaidholdonswungbackinmyhand。Ithadbeenleftunfastened，and，kickingthesnowfrommyboots，Ienteredaroom。
AgleamofmoonlightfollowedmeandIsawIwasinabigsalonwithapolishedwoodflooranddarklumpsoffurnitureswathedinsheets。Iclickedthebulbatmybelt，andthelittlecircleoflightshowedaplacewhichhadnotbeendweltinforyears。Atthefarendwasanotherdoor，andasItiptoedtowardsitsomethingcaughtmyeyeontheparquet。Itwasapieceoffreshsnowlikethatwhichclumpsontheheelofaboot。Ihadnotbroughtitthere。
Someothervisitorhadpassedthisway，andnotlongbeforeme。
VerygentlyIopenedthedoorandslippedin。Infrontofmewasapileoffurniturewhichmadeakindofscreen，andbehindthatI
haltedandlistened。Therewassomebodyintheroom。Iheardthesoundofhumanbreathingandsoftmovements；theman，whoeverhewas，wasatthefarendfromme，andthoughtherewasadimglowofMoonthroughabrokenshutterIcouldseenothingofwhathewasafter。Iwasbeginningtoenjoymyselfnow。Iknewofhispresenceandhedidnotknowofmine，andthatisthesportofstalking。
Anunwarymovementofmyhandcausedthescreentocreak。
Instantlythemovementsceasedandtherewasuttersilence。Iheldmybreath，andafterasecondortwothetinysoundsbeganagain。I
hadafeeling，thoughmyeyescouldnotassureme，thatthemanbeforemewasatwork，andwasusingaverysmallshadedtorch。
Therewasjustthefaintestmovingshimmeronthewallbeyond，thoughthatmightcomefromthecrackofmoonlight。
Apparentlyhewasreassured，forhismovementsbecamemoredistinct。Therewasajarasifatablehadbeenpushedback。Oncemoretherewassilence，andIheardonlytheintakeofbreath。I
haveveryquickears，andtomeitsoundedasifthemanwasrattled。Thebreathingwasquickandanxious。
Suddenlyitchangedandbecametheghostofawhistle-thekindofsoundonemakeswiththelipsandteethwithouteverlettingthetunebreakoutclear。Wealldoitwhenwearepreoccupiedwithsomething-shaving，orwritingletters，orreadingthenewspaper。ButIdidnotthinkmymanwaspreoccupied。Hewaswhistlingtoquietflutteringnerves。
ThenIcaughttheair。Itwas\'CherryRipe\'。
Inamoment，frombeinghugelyatmyease，Ibecamethenervousone。Ihadbeenplayingpeep-bowiththeunseen，andthetableswereturned。Myheartbeatagainstmyribslikeahammer。I
shuffledmyfeet，andagaintherefellthetensesilence。
\'Mary，\'Isaid-andthewordseemedtoexplodelikeabombinthestillness-\'Mary！It\'sme-DickHannay。\'
Therewasnoanswerbutasobandthesoundofatimidstep。
Itookfourpacesintothedarknessandcaughtinmyarmsatremblinggirl……
OfteninthelastmonthsIhadpicturedthekindofscenewhichwouldbetheculminatingpointofmylife。Whenourworkwasoverandwarhadbeenforgotten，somewhere-perhapsinagreenCotswoldmeadoworinaroomofanoldmanor-IwouldtalkwithMary。BythattimeweshouldknoweachotherwellandI
wouldhavelostmyshyness。IwouldtrytotellherthatIlovedher，butwheneverIthoughtofwhatIshouldsaymyheartsank，forI
knewIwouldmakeafoolofmyself。Youcan\'tlivemykindoflifeforfortyyearswhollyamongmenandbeofanyuseatprettyspeechestowomen。IknewIshouldstutterandblunder，andI
useddespairinglytoinventimpossiblesituationswhereImightmakemyloveplaintoherwithoutwordsbysomepieceofmelodramaticsacrifice。
ButthekindFateshadsavedmethetrouble。WithoutasyllablesaveChristiannamesstammeredinthateeriedarknesswehadcometocompleteunderstanding。Thefairieshadbeenatworkunseen，andthethoughtsofeachofushadbeenmovingtowardstheother，tilllovehadgerminatedlikeaseedinthedark。AsIheldherinmyarmsIstrokedherhairandmurmuredthingswhichseemedtospringoutofsomeancestralmemory。Certainlymytonguehadneverusedthembefore，normymindimaginedthem……Byandbysheslippedherarmsroundmyneckandwithahalfsobstrainedtowardsme。Shewasstilltrembling。
\'Dick，\'shesaid，andtohearthatnameonherlipswasthesweetestthingIhadeverknown。\'Dick，isitreallyyou？TellmeI\'mnotdreaming。\'
\'It\'sme，sureenough，Marydear。AndnowIhavefoundyouI
willneverletyougoagain。But，mypreciouschild，howonearthdidyougethere？\'
Shedisengagedherselfandletherlittleelectrictorchwanderovermyroughhabiliments。
\'Youlookatremendouswarrior，Dick。Ihaveneverseenyoulikethisbefore。IwasinDoubtingCastleandverymuchafraidofGiantDespair，tillyoucame。\'
\'IthinkIcallittheInterpreter\'sHouse，\'Isaid。
\'It\'sthehouseofsomebodywebothknow，\'shewenton。\'HecallshimselfBommaertshere。Thatwasoneofthetwonames，youremember。IhaveseenhimsinceinParis。Oh，itisalongstoryandyoushallhearitallsoon。Iknewhecameheresometimes，soI
cameheretoo。IhavebeennursingforthelastfortnightattheDouvecourtHospitalonlyfourmilesaway。\'
\'Butwhatbroughtyoualoneatnight？\'
\'Madness，Ithink。Vanity，too。YouseeIhadfoundoutagooddeal，andIwantedtofindouttheonevitalthingwhichhadpuzzledMrBlenkiron。Itoldmyselfitwasfoolish，butIcouldn\'tkeepaway。Andthenmycouragebrokedown，andbeforeyoucameIwouldhavescreamedatthesoundofamouse。IfIhadn\'twhistledIwouldhavecried。\'
\'Butwhyaloneandatthishour？\'
\'Icouldn\'tgetoffintheday。Anditwassafesttocomealone。
Youseeheisinlovewithme，andwhenheheardIwascomingtoDouvecourtforgothiscautionandproposedtomeetmehere。Hesaidhewasgoingonalongjourneyandwantedtosaygoodbye。Ifhehadfoundmealone-well，hewouldhavesaidgoodbye。Iftherehadbeenanyonewithme，hewouldhavesuspected，andhemustn\'tsuspectme。MrBlenkironsaysthatwouldbefataltohisgreatplan。HebelievesIamlikemyaunts，andthatIthinkhimanapostleofpeaceworkingbyhisownmethodsagainstthestupidityandwickednessofalltheGovernments。HetalksmorebitterlyaboutGermanythanaboutEngland。Hehadtoldmehowhehadtodisguisehimselfandplaymanypartsonhismission，andofcourseIhaveapplaudedhim。Oh，Ihavehadadifficultautumn。\'
\'Mary，\'Icried，\'tellmeyouhatehim。\'
\'No，\'shesaidquietly。\'Idonothatehim。Iamkeepingthatforlater。
Ifearhimdesperately。SomedaywhenwehavebrokenhimutterlyI
willhatehim，anddrivealllikenessofhimoutofmymemorylikeanuncleanthing。ButtillthenIwon\'twasteenergyonhate。Wewanttohoardeveryatomofourstrengthfortheworkofbeatinghim。\'
